Pointer for type-writers.



No. 835,494. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

- G. J. BARRETT.

POINTER FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904.

gllmen l'oz UNITED STATES I ATENT OFFICE.

GLENN J. BARRETT, OF GRAND RAPIDS. MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BARRETT TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- TION OF MICHIGAN.

POINTER FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed March 12, 1904- flerial No. 197,804.

- citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Pointers for Type- Writers, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates to im rovements in pointers for type-writing mac es and its object is to provide a pointer adapted to swing from a position where it does not contact with the platen and is out of the way normally to a position where it correctly indicates the point upon the platen where the next letter or character will impinge entirely independent of the tilting of said platen or any other motion which it might have.

M invention is more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto, and a structure embodying its mechanical principles is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my invention, showlng a platen ivotally mounted upon a type-writer and t e ointer thrown up into 0 erative osition. ig. 2 is a front view of ig. 1. ig. 3 is a side view of the pivotal mountin of my pointer, showing a sectional view of t e bar h, to which the pivotal mounting for my pointer is secured. Fig. 4 is a plan view of my swinging pointer. Fig. 5 is a plan view of my invention, showing the pointer in normal position.

As there is some disadvantage in having a pointer swing to an operative position automatically wlth the elevation of a tilting platen-carrier, I have made such swinging motion entirely independent of the motion of the platen in a manner which will admit of an adaptation to type-writing machines wherein the platen does not tilt.

By reference to the various fi ures shown, a, is the pointer, ivoted upon the support 70. Fig. 1 shows a p aten in tilted position with the pointer a in a vertical position, N indicating the point upon the platen where the type impinge. It will be noted that the pointer 11. is pivoted at such an angle that its indicating extremity comes in close proximity to the platen when in position shown in Fig. 1.

The general form of my pointer is shown in Fig. 4, the opening 4. being for the pivotingrivet, which attaches it to its support 7c. 9 is the point at which I prefer to attach the connecting-wire b, and l is a projection which comes 111 contact with the stop-pin 1' when the pointer is in vertical position.

I have shown the pivotal mounting of my ointer attached to a rod h, which forms the orward portion of a frame a, in which are suitable ways for the longitudinally-traveling carriage n. This frame has a shifting movement back and forth on a type-writer, carryin with it the type-writer carriage and platen or the urpose well known in connection with s t-key type-writers.

In Fig. 1, m indicates a platen cradle or carrier pivotally mounted in a carriage n and elevated so as to properly expose to view the point on the laten where the type impinge, (indicated as II.)

By reference to Figs. 2 and 5, f is a stop a ainst which my pointer normally rests. T 's position is shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the pointer in that position being down flush with the shifting frame upon which it is mounted and out of the way.

Fig. 2 shows a simple manner of connecting my pointer with a finger-button. In this illustration I have shown the push-rod I) supported in the frame end 0. Between the finger-button d and this frame end 0 I have placed the coil-spring e, which serves to pull the pointer away from its vertical position when pressure is taken from the fingerbutton (1.

The right hand is used to force the pointer to a vertical position, and with the left hand the carriage-escapement may be released and the carriage moved at will until the pointer indicates to the operator the point upon the platen where he wishes to print the next character. Then pressure is taken from the finger-button d and the pointer returns to normal position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the platen may then be lowered into operative position. When the pointer is in the position shown in Fig. 5 and the dotted lines in Fig. 2, it is entirely out of the way and is not liable to damage 1n making erasures, adjusting paper, cleaning the machine, &c.

I prefer to make the pointer a, of some light spring material, so that if for any reason the platen is tilted to operative position before releasing the pointer the latter is not damaged.

In adapting my invention to a t pe-writcr I have herewith shown a form 0 structure which is not particularly described in or intended as a part of this s eciiication but VVhatIdo claim, and esire covered by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine in combination with a pivoted platen carrier, the pointer a pivoted at i on the support In; the connecting-wire b pivotally attached to said pointer at g; the stop 7'; the finger-button mounted upon the connecting-wire b; and the spring e; the said parts coacting for the pn ose specified and substantially as descri )ed.

2. In at e-writing machine, in combination with a ongitudinally-traveling carriage carrying a tilting platen, a shifting frame, a pointer pivotally mounted u on said shifting frame and adapted to swing rom a horizontal position toward a vertical position in the direction of the travel of said carriage, stops for limiting the swinging of said pointer, a push-bar connected to said pointer and extending to one side of the top of the typewriter, a finger-button mounted on said pushbar, and the spring e between said fingerbutton and said shifting frame, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writing machine in combination with a longitudinally-traveling carriage carrying a tilting platen, a shifting frame, a

ointcr pivotally mounted ufpon said shifting Frame and adapted to swing rom a horizontal position toward a vertical position in the direction of the travel of said carriage, stops for limiting the swinging of said pointer, a push-bar connected to said pointer and extending to one side of the top of the typewriter, and a finger-button mounted upon said push-bar substantially as described.

4. In a type-writing machine in combination with a longitudinally-traveling carriage carrying a tilting platen, a shifting frame, a

ointer pivotally mounted upon said shifting ame and adapted to swing from a horizontal, toward a vertical position in the direction of the travel of said carriage, stops for limiting the swinging of said pointer, a finger-button at one side of said type-Writer, and a suitable connection between said fingar-button and said pointer substantially as escribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GLENN J. BARRETT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. D. REEVE, GEORGE B. EATON. 

